Explicit Instruction/Teacher Modeling

Explain to students that clouds are water particles that form in the sky. When they become too heavy, it starts to rain!

Then, read students the story It Looked Like Spilt Milk.

Throughout the story, ask students what the different pictures look like to them.

Guided Practice/Interactive Modeling

(5 minutes)

Explain to the students that today they will be making a picture of clouds in the sky.

Using the instructions in the Independent Working Time section, demonstrate how to make your own "clouds."

Independent Working Time

(15 minutes)

Students should now complete this activity independently. Walk through the classroom to make sure students are on task.

Give each student a piece of blue construction paper and a hand full of cotton balls. Have students put glue on the top of the paper and drag the cotton balls over it. It will make a figure.

Have students identify what the cotton ball cloud looks like to them. Then, students should glue or write the following poem on the bottom of their page: "I looked up to the sky and thought I saw a ______, but it was just a cloud staring back at me."

Differentiation

Enrichment: Give students extra literature to look through about clouds.

Support: For struggling students, play the video How Clouds Form by Rain Drop Cartoon.

Assessment

(5 minutes)

Ask students to point to a cloud. Have them tell you what the cloud looks like. Ask them what clouds are made of.

Review and Closing

(10 minutes)

Have each student come to the front of the room and show off their cloud. Have them recite the poem and state what their cloud looks like.